A 20 per cent increase in enquiries for Arctic holidays has paved the way for a new offer from Active Travel worth up to A$3000 per couple.

In the first half of this year, Active Travel saw a 20 per cent increase in travel enquires for the Arctic compared to last year, with the opportunities of spotting polar bears being a huge drawcard for Australians making the journey to the icy region.

Guests on Active Travel’s 10-day or 12-day Arctic cruises in 2017 to the island of Spitsbergen will receive a choice of two special offers worth A$1500 per person– either return flights from Oslo to Longyearbyen and one night’s pre-voyage accommodation, or a A$1500 international flight credit – if booked before July 31, 2016.

First used as a whaling base in the 17th and 18th centuries, the remote Norwegian island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago is a breeding ground for many seabirds, along with marine mammals and polar bears. On both of the Spitsbergen cruises, guests will fly into Longyearbyen – which, at a latitude of 78 degrees, is the world’s most northerly town – where they begin their cruise, sailing into the heart of the Norwegian Arctic.

After setting sail from Longyearbyen, the 10-day ‘Spitsbergen Encounter’ tour will take guests near The Bay of Bourbonhamna, known for its beluga whale colony, while perhaps catching a glimpse of the dozens of reindeer that inhabit the area. From there, the ship will travel to the striking Lilliehook Glacier – which stretches almost 7km across, with a height of about 80m – and the Monaco Glacier, which guests can see up-close by kayaking or zodiac cruising.

Travellers will also visit the old whaling station of Smeerenburg, learning about the importance of whaling in the discovery and exploration of the Svalbard Archipelago. Finally, guests will visit the walrus colony on Prince Charles Island before celebrating the journey with a special dinner attended by the ship’s captain, and then returning to Longyearbyen.

Included along the way will be a comprehensive series of presentations by polar experts, as well as opportunities for fitness and yoga, photography, polar bear viewing and sea kayaking. Guests will journey on board the Akademik Ioffe, a modern, ice strengthened vessel purpose-built for polar research. The 10-day cruise departs June 8 or June 17, 2017, and costs from US$6895 per person, twin-share in a semi-private cabin. Bookings made before July 31, 2016, will include either A$1500 international flight credit per person or return flights from Oslo to Longyearbyen, Longyearbyen airport transfers and one night pre-voyage accommodation.

International flights are extra and can be booked through Active Travel.